leadership in global community.
Kerani Mitchell on April 19th, 2013One my favorite poets, Mary Oliver writes so thoughtfully about the gift and brevity of our lives. In light of the recent events in Boston and elsewhere, I reflect on Oliver’s poem, “The Summer Day,” in which she asks, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
For most people, such a question is a hypothetical one. For iLEAP that question is real. Guided by components of its mission statement, “inspiring social leaders; igniting social change,” iLEAP’s programs leave a lasting impact on participants by focusing on personal development and relationships as key elements of successful leadership. Through the practice of holding an intentional space dedicated to self-reflection and inquiry, iLEAP program participants are challenged to identify their core values and motivations for action both within their personal and professional lives. Introducing a leadership model based on personal development, iLEAP’s program’s stand apart from traditional leadership models that offer a portfolio or end project. The ability to reassess what is and what could be, and why is a project that never end. For participants, the project is both individual and communal, linking personal development to community-oriented action.
Recalling Oliver’s poem entitled, “The Summer Day” I think of iLEAP and of the intentions behind holding a space and realize how lucky the iLEAP participants are. Maybe someday I can be one, too.
Mary Oliver’s “Summer Day” poem can be found at the Library of Congress’s website: http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/133.html
Tags: community, dreams, holding a space, iLEAP Online, leaderships, one life, SIIS, Social Innovation, values
Madeline Mendoza (IF'10, Nicaragua) on March 21st, 2013Recently, I was in Antigua, Guatemala gathered with all of the iLEAP Central America fellows. We shared stories, joys, triumphs, struggles, but mostly HOPE. Yes, hope is one of the countless intangible things I’ve got from my experience with the iLEAP program, but how do you explain it? Where do you find the right words to describe the journey this program takes you to?
For sure is always easier to explain –especially to donors– that you’re building a school, a well in an isolated village, providing health services or donating school supplies and other things for impoverished children living in the Global South. Most people love concrete, countable, touchable things. They love to build, repair, save, fix stuff and problems… and of course, they also love numbers. Oh, yes, how much they love to count people and adding up revenues produced through some credit or entrepreneurial–business based– program, for example. In the mainstream criteria of aid, philanthropy, charity and all such things, quantity very often beats quality achievement.
Unfortunate, for me –and I suspect for everyone else– who have had the privilege of encountering with this unique program is not easy to put into limited words the impact it had on my life. I don’t think I could ever do it justice whenever someone asks me, “What’s iLEAP about? What did you learn from it?” You may think, “If you can’t explain it, you don’t understand it”. However, there are profound changes in life that cannot be reduced to a simple conceptualization or theory.
In my opinion, iLEAP provides a space for leaders to nurture hope, motivation, collaboration, commitment and vocation of service. That’s something you don’t usually find in a leadership training program –at least for me, this is the only one I know that focuses its energy on the shaping of a most needed leadership renewal, whose roots are based on a profound personal change. Many leadership programs are based on business approaches, a market oriented perspective that is intended to solve social problems, which are very often –if not most of the time– caused by the same economic paradigm ruling the world.
iLEAP gathers social leaders from around the world and creates connections among courageous people who dare to take leaps of faith and defy the unjust status quo. Those are the people who are often creating changes from the grassroots level and setting the foundations of revolutionary and real positive change. It’s not about showing off your leadership skills or being on the spotlight. It’s about knowing who you are, what you want, where you’re heading to and about true listening. This also takes you to an inevitable question: you want to create positive change, but for whom? Depending on how you answer it could mean you’ll be swimming against the current or with it. Because I’m not sure if the term positive change itself explains the preferential option for the poor and the excluded you –most likely– have taken.
While in Guatemala, iLEAP fellows shared what the program was like for them. Many words such as freedom, overcoming insecurities, strength, energy, tools, big family and opportunities filled the air. I couldn’t help thinking about how I would explain the transforming power it had over people’s lives. iLEAP provides tools and skills to improve the work everyone is doing towards the achievement of positive change in their communities. Alright, this is not so complicated to explain, you received and processed some information you can later apply back home, like how to make a digital story, for example…. Hmmm how about making the case for the invisible changes happening inside of you? How about feeling so caressed by the kindness of iLEAP founders, Britt and Izumi? Yeah, they have the ability to bring up the best of you and make you shine, just like the Pygmalion effect.
And how about letting people know that being part of the program is like finding a creek in the middle of a desert of disenchantment, tiredness and hopelessness? It’s a place to re-energize your batteries. Leaders are always serving and taking care of others, but who is taking care of them?
If no one focuses on feeding and thoughtfully igniting the emergence of a new generation of committed and passionate leaders, then, how would you expect [positive] social changes to happen? iLEAP helps refocusing leaders’ visions, but most importantly, it helps you confirm your leader’s essence and renew your sense of commitment. How do I tell you that I returned from Seattle with unexpected gifts hidden in my suitcase, hope and confidence? Isn’t hope enough? I read somewhere that hope is the greatest gift you can give to someone… not to mention the meaningful bonding my heart tightened.
HOPE fuels life.
Veryl on March 15th, 2013Currently a Program Associate at iLEAP, i have had the honors to not only learn various leaderships skills and personal development strategies, but have equally participated in the organizations’ various programs that boasts diverse cultural experiences and innovative projects. The latest trip brought me down to the East Coast, to attend a two week UN Women conference organized by the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Growing up as a young girl in Kenya, i witnessed many girls miss the opportunity to go to school hence had their dreams crushed. I was fortunate enough to go school myself and get empowered and because of this i have been constantly aiming at becoming an empowered female leader in my society who will in return go back to support the girl child in my own community and help empower them to becoming the future leaders. iLEAP has by far helped me realized my dreams by modelling me into a better leader. When an opportunity for a United Nations conference came through, they gave their utmost support to enable me attend the same and become even more empowered.
I had a chance to attend the NGO CSW forum conversation circles on various topics among them Human Rights, Sustainable Development Peace and Security/Violence Against Women. My biggest breakthrough was when i attended the NGO Regional Caucuses (Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia/Pacific, and got the chance to give three different presentations on various occasions. The opportunity to network with diverse groups of women leaders from all around the globe was heartwarming and quite a learning experience too. On March 8th, the United Nations Women for Peace organized an event called March on March 8th. I participated on this event and it was fascinating seeing hundreds of women and men from different nations and cultures march on a cold snowy Friday afternoon in the new York streets in the hopes of ending violence against women. Among the participants was the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, who i was fortunate enough to meet and share some insight.
It was an honor meeting Era Espana, one of iLEAP’s graduates from the ’10 International Fellowship program. We had such great conversations and two years after her graduation from iLEAP she still remembered vividly her experience while in the program. What really stood out for her was the sense of community and the diverse skills fellows had from various backgrounds and cultures. Above all, the fact that there were people out there trying to make the world a better place in the smallest way possible they could is one memory she has never let go.
She took away with her the sense of teamwork from the program and that she says has been the biggest gift in her work since she works with indigenous people and the ability to engage them all and get their pieces of 
mind has been crucial. Her participation in the program two years ago has by far altered her work in her community to the leader she is today. She is currently the tribal chief of the Indigenous tribes in her community back in the Philippines. She works with both men and women in trying to end violence against women by organizing a native gathering and working on various community projects together. As the tribal chief, she is their critical thinker. She advocates and integrates the best policies hence documents them for future references.
From the CSW57 conference, she hopes to reach out to the international community and spread the gospel on the importance of protecting the local indigenous people and by supporting their cultural practices and ending violence of whatever nature. I asked her what her community members were expecting from her once she returned to the Philippines and she gave me a broad smile and said, “a lot” She however said she is hoping to execute all that she learned at the conference at her community through formal and informal means of education and to equally share all the networks she will have established.
The conference officially ends today March 15th 2013. It has been such a great eye opener and has enabled me to learn a lot more on international women issues, network extensively and share my stories with the international audience. I am taking away a lot with me back to Seattle and i hope to share with iLEAP all that i learned from the conference, the greatest of them all, the importance of empowering a female leader.
Tags: era espana, iLEAP Fellows, iLEAP Online, UN, Veryl Obodi, Women
Kana on March 14th, 2013私がiLEAPでインターンをさせていただいてから、もうすぐ3か月が経とうとしています。iLEAPを通じて、たくさんの素敵な方々に出会えたことに、心の底から感謝です。
11月に、インターンとして初めて参加した、インターナショナルフェローズのトークイベントは思えば私にとって一つの分岐点でした。ケニア、ルワンダ、コンゴ、インド、ニカラグア、ホンジュラス、グアテマラ…、世界のあちこちから集まった草の根のリーダーたちの話に釘付けになりました。緊張した面持ちで会場に足を運んだ私は、イベントが始まってすぐに、理由はよく分からないけれど「ここでよかった」と直感したのを覚えています。
シアトルに留学する前、大学4年生のとき、私はフィジーの国連（UNDP）で4カ月間インターンをさせていただきました。社会科教師になるよりも、自分は教育や就労機会の限られた人々と一緒に「機会」をつくりたいと思いを固め、大学にあった「国連学生ボランティアプログラム」に応募したことから始まりました。英語もままならない一大学生が、様々な国籍の専門家が集う国連で何ができるのか。最初は不安いっぱいでした。そこで、私は貧困撲滅チームの一員として、南太平諸国（バヌアツ、ツバル、キリバスという小さな島国）の国際貿易キャパシティ開発プロジェクトに携わりました。貿易統計を集めてデータベースを作ったり、貧困地域に住む女性や子供の暮らしがどう改善されたのかレポートにまとめたりしました。
ある日、必死になってパソコンに噛り付いていた私は、お掃除担当のフィジー人のおばさんが手作りのキャッサバケーキ（地元でよく採れるお芋をつかったケーキ）をオフィスの片隅でこっそり売っているのを発見しました。10時過ぎで小腹がすいていたので、私も一切れ買いました。それが疲れた体にとびっきり美味しくて、思わず単純に駆け寄って行って、「美味しかったよ。ありがとう！」と声をかけたんです。そのおばさんは満面にっこりして、ハグしてくれました。「どういたしまして！」
そんなことがあってから、英語の多少の間違いはご愛嬌と腹をくくって、「心を開こう」と決心しました。お昼休みにフィジー人の同僚5人の男性陣に交じって、ココナッツどっさりお芋どっさりご飯を食べながら語ったり、超がつくほど忙しいスーパーバイザーの部屋に自作の質問集を持ってお邪魔したり、オランダ人の上司の家に泊まって2人深夜徹夜でプレゼンテーションを作ったり。
素直に自分らしく心を開いて、そこで出会った人々とたくさんの時間と想いを共有しました。ここには書き表せられないけれど、私にとって、あの4カ月は一生の宝物です。
その後、英語、プログラムマネジメント、経験、すべて未熟な自分を鍛えよう、そう思って家族の支援のもと、アメリカに1年間留学に来ました。最初の半年はなかなかインターン先が見つからなくて、人と想いを共有できなくて、前に進めない自分にいらいらするときもありましたが、iLEAPとの出会いは最高のギフトでした。自分のバリューは「国籍や肌の色は違うけれど、同じ人間として共に学び合う、次の社会を創っていく」なんだと気づきました。「iLEAP」というスペースでは、自分自身と向き合う機会がたくさんあります。弱いところもカッコいい仮面被って隠そうとせず、ありのままの私たちで、大事なものを「共有」したい。そう思わせてくれる、ここにいるプログラム参加者、スタッフの皆さんに感謝です！
※次回は、インターナショナルフェローズの一人、ニカラグア出身のファティマとの出会いについて書こうと思います。
Kerani Mitchell on March 12th, 2013Looking back on SIFJ 2013:
As one of iLEAP’s three major programs, the SIFJ took up a lot of time and energy for everyone in the office. It was my first opportunity to meet and interact with international iLEAP participants. I had the opportunity to attend and help run support for the event—shifting my duties from data entry/research to event support.
The events I attended and assisted with were an iLEAP public event at Wing Luke Museum in the international district kicking off the SIFJ, and the iLEAP potluck concluding the SIFJ. I learned a lot about the SIFJ delegates at the Wing Luke museum and was blown away by the diversity of skills, interests and personality amongst them all.
I was really inspired by each delegate but due to limited time, translators and some language barriers, I personally interacted with only with four of the eight delegates but I was still able to hear each delegate’s story when they shared opening night.
Some of the delegates I had the opportunity to talk with were:
Kana Kawaguchi, a now twenty-two year old woman who at fourteen years old defied her parents’ expectation and rules of not interacting with people without a home and went on to found an organization known as Homedoor, which promotes job creation and opportunity for homeless individuals. I admire Kana’s defiance, fearlessness and her sincerity. We talked about how her parents’ disapproval influenced her desire to interact with the homeless in Japan but that the Homedoor project came about after her original interactions led to deeper relationships with those individuals. Unfortunately I did not get to hear much more about Kana but was nonetheless impressed and inspired by her commitment and vision.
Takamasa Matsuura who is CEO of an organization called Beat Blast utilized the power of art to inspire others. With his work rooted in music as a means for change and leadership, Beat Blast really resonated with me due to my deep believe in music as a powerful tool for change for everyone but especially for young people. Blast Beat is a program offering teenagers the opportunity to learn about music, music marketing and leadership and self-development. Takamasa demonstrated the power of his work by showing “before” slides of high school students in Japan who were anti-social and disconnected from society but then later shifted to be engaged, social and inspired young people, willing and enthusiastic to contribute to society.
As with most introductions to people and event,s I walked away with a piqued interest and questions about the work iLEAP and the SIIFJ delegates do. Thankfully, iLEAP’s programs run often enough that I continue to be involved in and introduced to delegates and fellow’s as they spend time with iLEAP Seattle.
Right now, the March program is focused on Japanese college-aged leaders Social Innovation in Seattle (SIIS) is occurring and yet again, I’ve meet amazing young adults who are inspiring and motivated. I’ll report back on the “who’s who” and the “what do they do” shortly!
Tags: 2013, college-aged, iLEAP Online, innovation, Japan, leaders, SIIS, SIISJ, young-adults
Karen Faith Villaprudente (IF'11, Philippines) on February 21st, 2013The coastal community I was doing household survey on is in danger of being demolished to give way to a beach resort.
The fishing households in this community earn, on the average $1,243.30 every year or $3.40 for a 7-hour fishing day. This is just one example of thousands of coastal communities that are being demolished to give way to such so-called ‘development’ projects as beach resorts. When communities are demolished, they are put in relocation sites (if there are any) where they have to pay for the boxes development planners call houses and away from their sources of livelihood. In the case of small-scale fisher-folks they lose a source of livelihood and food, as they can no longer fish in a fishing ground where tourism is being developed by local governments. So one does wonder how the beach resorts, seaside hotels, and subdivisions have contributed to the household incomes in these communities.
I have been doing household surveys in different fishing communities here in Panay Island, Philippines as part of my coursework for a master’s degree in Environment and Resource Management. I am also going to use the results of the survey in writing an overview of the situation of small-scale fishers and coastal fishing communities, as part of the campaign to advance the rights and welfare of these communities.
Tags: fisheries, Philippines, Philippines 10TCT, social change
Kerani Mitchell on February 5th, 2013Looking forward to the iLEAP Social Innovation Forum, Japan 2013
iLEAP’s annual 10-day Social Innovation Forum Japan (SIFJ) kicks off this week almost two years after the 3/11/11 tsunami devastatingly altered the communities and hearts of those living in northern Japan. Recalling that day, as an American with few personal ties to Japan, most of my information and understanding about the disaster and its consequences came from online stories and interviews. This put me in a position of feeling overwhelmed but unable to truly relate or reach out to those affected by the aftermath. That day, as on other days, my desire to learn and reach out wasn’t fulfilled by a simple monetary donation to a relief organization. I wanted something more.
That is where iLEAP comes in. It puts people on equal footing. iLEAP isn’t about “saving” those in a “disadvantaged situation,” it’s about uniting and inspiring action from citizens who have hope for a better future for both their local community and for the greater global one.
Serving as a conduit between social change leaders and citizens wishing to learn more about the world and our collective roles as leaders, iLEAP offers an innovative answer to my “something more”. This something more manifests itself through two primary iLEAP programs: the International Fellowship & the Social Innovation Forum: Japan.
Both programs bring action-minded people from multiple disciplines (and continents) into a shared forum so that they may focus on a common goal and learn about leadership in a unique and reciprocal manner. Last year’s International Fellows came from a variety of backgrounds including sustainable agriculture, women’s health, youth leadership, and micro-lending. This year’s 8 SIFJ delegates also reflect similar diversity.
The 2012 International Fellowship program ran September-November and brought in 15 participants. Although on the IF is on break until the fall, iLEAP is currently hosting the 2013 SIFJ which kicked off this week. If you’d like to learn more about iLEAP’s work and meet the 8 visiting delegates, please join us February 8th at the Wing Luke Museum, at 6:30pm.
For more information on the SIFJ delegates, the International Fellowship participants and their respective work, please check out the video and program site, linked below!
http://n50.onetotheworld.net/civic16
http://www.ileap.org/programs/
http://www.ileap.org/programs/#SIFJ
Of interest, NYT article written day after the quake:
Fackler, M. (2011, March 12). Powerful Quake and Tsunami Devastate Northern Japan. New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/12/world/asia/12japan.html
Tags: community building, Japan, Leadership, Social Innovation Forum
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